Pirates fall to Wolves 5-2 in home-opener

Pirates fall to Wolves 5-2 in home-opener

By: Taylor Wright | SouthwesternPirates.com

GEORGETOWN, Texas – Southwestern dropped its 2015 home-opener to Cardinal Stritch 5-2 at Rockwell Field on Tuesday night. The Pirates drop to 4-4 on the season with the loss.

Noah Clark, the first Pirate on in relief, recorded the loss and moved to 1-1 on the year. Ethan Hallmark led the offensive effort for Southwestern with two hits, one RBI and a run scored. Tyler Bludau and Will Cates each notched a hit in the game while Thomas O'Brien scored the only other Pirate run.

The Wolves jumped out to an early start to plate a run in the top of the first despite not recording a hit in the inning. The Pirates responded in the bottoma with a double from Hallmark to score O'Brien. Hallmark then stole third and gave SU a 2-1 lead when he continued home on a Cardinal Stritch error.

A Pirate error was costly as back-to-back Cardinal Stritch doubles brought home two runners to give the Wolves a 3-2 lead in the top of the third. Southwestern threatened in the bottom of the fourth but would have the tying run tagged out attempting to steal third.

Will Preston came on as the fifth relief pitcher for the Pirates to notch two outs in the top of the seventh and leave the bases full of Wolves. However, the effort fell short as Cardinal Stritch plated two security runs in the top of the eighth which was enough to defeat Southwestern, 5-2.

The four-game home stand for Southwestern will conclude this weekend with a non-conference bout against Texas Lutheran University. The Pirates will square-off against the Bulldogs at 6 p.m. Friday at Rockwell Field before the series concludes with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.